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Boiler Room: Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon
Running Backs don’t have to be “five-tool” ball carriers to succeed in the NFL — especially if a couple of tools compensate for a lack of others. Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon might be this kind of prospect. “There’s no running back who can start and stop faster in all of college football.” This is what former…
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Tipping Their Hand: WRs Jaelen Strong and Ty Montgomery
Vaunted wide receiver prospects Jaelen Strong and Ty Montgomery demonstrate that when it comes to the a craft of playing the position, a slow mind negates size, strength, and speed. Wide receiver is a deceptive position by nature — both from the standpoint of how it’s played and scouting NFL prospects. There are always great…
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Boiler Room: WR DeVante Parker
Selling a vertical route starts with the first few steps off the line. See why this is so important with successful route running. It’s hard not to like Louisville wide receiver DeVante Parker as an NFL prospect. He’s tall, fast, and has a quick first-step with the ball in his hands. I also like his…
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Kasen Williams and The Gray Area Between Attacking and Protecting The Target
Do you look at your past evaluations and apply what you’ve learned to your present work? The response might not be what you think. Washington receiver Kasen Williams’ game offers me a way to explain. I’m often asked how I evaluate my work. Usually, the question is attached with an assumption of how I evaluate…
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Futures – Intuition and Process: FSU RB Karlos Williams
Futures: FSU RB Karlos Williams by Matt Waldman People love the idea of being one step ahead of everyone else. It’s why the question, “Who is a player you like in next year’s draft?” is one of the most common I receive. I spend so much time studying the prospects most likely to declare for this year’s…
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Futures at Football Outsiders: Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel
Futures: Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel by Matt Waldman Management Style and Quarterbacking In last week’s Futures on Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, I described quarterbacking styles within the context of task-oriented management and creative management. Be it a white-collar, blue-collar, or athletic career, these are two basic ends of the spectrum when talking about management styles. Task-oriented…
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Quick Bursts: RB Michael Dyer and the Context of Patience
Do you judge a player’s decisions play-by-play or with a group of plays? There is no clear answer. Michael Dyer’s performance against Clemson is a good example A common refrain that ESPN radio host and Footballguys writer Cecil Lammey used to describe former Texas A&M running back Cyrus Gray before the Chiefs drafted him was…